I know. Cod liver oil. Yuck. Half of you just made a face as you read the title of this post. Bear with me, okay?
In the midst of a month exploring traditional foods, I couldn't hardly not cover this most important elixir, considered both a food and a supplement. If I could recommend only one supplement to every family, it would be this one. If my family were to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to bring one superfood to consume, in addition to whatever we found on the island, I would pick this one (unless by some miraculous chance I could fly me in a big ol' Jersey cow for raw milk... that would make it a toss up).
Cod Liver Oil as a Traditional Food
The use of cod liver oil goes back farther than you might think. Used primarily for nobility and soliders in the ancient Roman Empire, cod liver oil was thought to maintain strength. The ancient Vikings always kept a barrel of fermenting cod liver oil outside the doors of their homes. Even my grandparents from the East coast of Canada grew up taking diligent spoonfuls out of barrels of fermenting cod livers along the wharf in the fishing community where they lived.
What Makes Cod Liver Oil So Good for Us?
3 things that cod liver oil has going for it:
1. It contains high amounts of EPA and DHA, both crucial Omega-3 fatty acids. DHA is particularly needed for proper brain and nervous system function.
2. High levels of a natural form of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin. In Weston Price's studies, he discovered that primitive or traditional societies consumed at least 10 times the amount of both vitamin A and D that our modernized society consumes.
Weston Price considered the fat-soluble vitamins, especially vitamin A, to be the catalysts on which all other biological processes depend. Efficient mineral uptake and utilization of water-soluble vitamins require sufficient vitamin A in the diet. His research demonstrated that generous amounts of vitamin A insure healthy reproduction and offspring with attractive wide faces, straight teeth and strong sturdy bodies.
He discovered that healthy primitives especially value vitamin-A-rich foods for growing children and pregnant mothers. The tenfold disparity that Price discovered between primitive diets and the American diet in the 1940s is almost certainly greater today as Americans have forsworn butter and cod liver oil for empty, processed polyunsaturates. (source)
3. Plentiful vitamin D, a nutrient that most North Americans are deficient in, particularly those who live in cloudier climates with less sunshine (I say as I stare out my window, 6 months into the West Coast grey and rainy season). Recent research has been strongly connecting vitamin D with the immune system and autoimmune diseases. It is also important for bone strength (it ensures correct levels of calcium in the blood), for blood sugar balance, for fertility, for cancer prevention and more.
Can I heap some more praise onto the humble oil of the cod liver?
This marvelous golden oil contains large amounts of elongated omega-3 fatty acids, preformed vitamin A and the sunlight vitamin D, essential nutrients that are hard to obtain in sufficient amounts in the modern diet. Samples may also naturally contain small amounts of the important bone- and blood-maintainer vitamin K.
There is hardly a disease in the books that does not respond well to treatment that includes cod liver oil, and not just infectious diseases but also chronic modern diseases like heart disease and cancer. Cod liver oil provides vitamin D that helps build strong bones in children and helps prevent osteoporosis in adults. The fatty acids in cod liver oil are also very important for the development of the brain and nervous system. "If you want to prevent learning disabilities in your children," said David Horrobin, distinguished medical and biochemical researcher, "feed them cod liver oil."
Cod liver oil contains more vitamin A and more vitamin D per unit weight than any other common food. One hundred grams of regular cod liver oil provides 100,000 IU of vitamin A, almost three times more than beef liver, the next richest source; and 10,000 IU vitamin D, almost four times more than lard, the next richest source. Of course, cod liver oil is only consumed in small amounts, but even a tablespoon (about 15 grams) provides well over the recommended daily allowance for both nutrients. (source)
Caden showing you how strong his cod liver oil makes him!
Who Should Take Cod Liver Oil?
Everyone! Cod liver oil is highly recommended as a general supplement for all adults and children by the Weston A. Price Foundation, The Maker's Diet author Dr. Jordan Rubin, and Gut and Psychology Syndrome author Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, all of whom I greatly respect for their nutritional research and guidance.
I personally follow the WAPF recommendations for cod liver oil dosages. They suggest the following (source):
Based on these values, the dosage for the high-vitamin fermented cod liver oil is provided as follows:
Children age 3 months to 12 years: 1/2 teaspoon or 2.5 mL, providing 4650 IU vitamin A and 975 IU vitamin D.
Children over 12 years and adults: 1 teaspoon or 10 capsules, providing 9500 IU vitamin A and 1950 IU vitamin D.
Pregnant and nursing women: 2 teaspoon or 20 capsules, providing 19,000 IU vitamin A and 3900 IU vitamin D.
It should be noted that if you are taking a fermented cod liver oil, like Green Pasture, the suggested servings are actually 1/2 of these amounts, and many people find those dosages to be sufficient. If you are taking another brand, compare the vitaminA and D levels to see how they match up to the suggested dosages above.
Which Cod Liver Oil Should I Use?
The one that our family personally uses (most of the time) and that I would recommend is Green Pasture. This is the only brand I know of for sure that uses a traditional method of fermenting the oil (lacto-fermentation), rather than subjecting it to high temperature processing. This retains far more nutrients and possibly even increases nutrient content, as the lacto-fermentation method tends to do to most foods. It also contains the ideal vitamin A to D ratio, which is 5:1.
Additionally, many brands of cod liver oil have been highly processed, deodorized, bleached and as a result of dwindling vitamin content at this point, they have synthetic vitamins added back in. So much for being a traditional food supplement!
Are there other decent brands out there? Yes. They do not have the benefits of the old-fashioned fermentation method, but there are some that are still worthwhile, although none that I know of that fall into the correct A to D ratio.
Garden of Life Icelandic Cod Liver Oil is one that we've used somewhat, as it is not deodorized and contains natural vitamins, not synthetic ones (but, it may have a ratio of anywhere from 8:1 up to 25:1, depending on what you read). Carlson Norwegian Cod Liver Oil is another respectable brand, though its ratio is only about 2:1 or 3:1 (WAPF lists it as a "Good", though not "Best", choice). They also list TwinLabs Cod Liver Oil, which our family took for years before learning about Green Pasture. I would imagine that it is more processed than some brands, as the taste wasn't as hard to take, but it was still incredibly useful for helping my eczema because of its fatty acid content. I can't really speak to whether the A and D are synthetic or not, but their ratio is 10:1.
Interestingly, one reason to pay attention to the A to D ratio is that vitamin D is actually protective retinol (vitamin A) toxicity, a concern to some. So cod liver oil, eaten as a the whole, natural food that it is particularly safe in that regard. If you're concerned about vitamin A toxicity, this is a good read. Long, but helpful.
What If I Truly Can't Afford the Really Good Stuff?
Take something anyways. At least, that's what I think. Some real foodies will adamantly tell you only Green Pasture and nothing else. Not me. I would rather see someone at least getting in those fatty acids, and hopefully some of the natural vitamin D and A, than nothing at all. I admit, the thought of the synthetic vitamins makes me cringe, so if you're looking at several cheaper brands, I would try calling their customer hotlines or doing some internet research to see whether they include synthetic vitamins or not.
I do have to say, though, that the good stuff isn't as expensive as it seems. When I first saw that a bottle of Green Pasture was a whopping $44, I just about had a heart attack. But, when I got it and saw just how small a dose is (particularly a child's, but even an adult's) I realized that it would definitely go further than I had thought. And, there are so many places in our budgets where we have no qualms about spending $11 (about the cost of a one-month supply for an adult), like those 2-3 lattes a month (or more)... isn't this worth the cost?
My dutiful Abbie, taking her cod liver oil straight.
And Just How Do I Get This "Magical Elixir" Down?
Why, you plug your nose, of course!
I'm (somewhat) joking, but if that doesn't work for you, here are some ideas that might:
- Add liquid cod liver oil to some orange juice, and chug it down.
- Find the best flavor you can find. Personally, Cinnamon Tingle is so far our favorite Green Pasture flavor, and I think my kids liked TwinLabs Mint quite a bit, and the Carlson lemon flavored oil is decent. I find Garden of Life a bit hard to swallow.
- Try an emulsified oil. My favorite TwinLabs flavor was the Emulsified Mint (unfortunately, it also ended up a lot more expensive, but hey, if it helps you get it down...). Green Pasture just came out with a new line of emulsified oils as well.
- Follow whatever you choose to take with a swig of water and something with a stronger flavor. We like a piece of cheese, raisins, and have even been known to use chocolate chips (healthier ones, of course!) as bribery.
- If all else fails, just take the capsules like my hubby does. He uses the Green Pasture orange flavored ones, and never complains about fishy burps or the like.
Do you take cod liver oil? Do you notice a difference in your health when you take it? And how do you get it down?
Disclaimer: I am not a certified medical professional of any kind and am not qualified to give you medical advice, to diagnose any illness or prescribe treatment. My goal is to help to educate and inspire you to take responsibility for your own family's health and make informed choices of your own, not to consult you on medical treatment.
And no, this post was not sponsored by Green Pasture (or any other brand). They are generously sponsoring a giveaway this Thursday (yay!), but that has nothing to do with this post, it just happens to be the brand our family uses most often.
If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:
{ 84 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
hey
Does anyone know if it will be ok to mix the oil with food(warm food). I can swear that it helps my kids but they wouldn’t take it straight. so I have been mixing it in the foods..where i can. Not sure if its absolutely safe though..as food is warmish?
Thanks
Do you need to store cod liver oil in the refrigerator or freezer, and if yes, which ones?
I read that once (can’t recall where) and was wondering if anyone has any good info on this?
I just bought Green Pastures high vitamin butter oil/cod liver oil blend and have been taking it the last few days. I was wondering if I should keep it in the fige though.
Any ideas? Let me know. And thanks!
Hi!
I just started giving my 4 yo daughter 1/2 tsp a day of the Green Pastures CLO/BO combo. We do a dollop mixed with apple sauce and she’s been taking it regularly! Has anyone had any experiences with using this and treating cavities?
Thanks xx
Is ok to take cod liver oil with my pre-natal vitamins? I’m worried about Vit a toxicity. Thank you! Great blog :)
Shannon~ The Vitamin A in your pre-natals is synthetic Vitamin A opposed to the natural form of Vitamin A, as mentioned in this post (click on the underlined phrase “natural form of vitamin A” written in the second benefit of cod liver oil). Your body can’t assimilate synthetic Vitamin A and therefore, the fear of overdoing it is a valid one.
With my first, I was taking pre-natals, but my respected midwife gave me her opinion about those being sort of a joke if I was eating whole foods, raw when available, and taking in enough folic acid, not in supplement form. The best sources of natural folic acid are dark leafy greens, dried beans, legumes, and citrus fruits.
I hope this helps!
Stephanie, what have you heard about “childlife cod liver oil” for children. I’ve been giving it to my son since he was 6 months old. So far, he’s been disease and infection free for 3 months and it’s winter time here in NY. Plus, he’s in daycare and seems to be one of the healthiest kids there. Just wondering if you’ve heard anything about this brand? Thanks for your article.
I’m sorry, Jeanette, I haven’t heard of that particular brand. Hope you can find some good info on it!
i’m not sure if this was answered already but i’m having trouble finding WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TAKE THE CAPSULES…before eating? with meal? empty stomach? etc.
thanks!
this is my question too. i take the liquid, but i wanted to know the best time to take it.
I understand all of the dense nutrition that comes with eating traditional fats. But I wanted to mention this…
Fish oils and cod liver oils are the best sources of EPA and DHA and will lower your triglycerides. However, this is accompanied by an increase in the LDL levels or the ‘bad cholesterol’.
I am from a fish eating culture and moderation is extremely important. Even though its a humble omega3, its after all a fat and too much fat increases the LDL level in the blood. In all the real food books I have read, they all talk about how cholesterol is required by the body for optimum health. But i’m too chicken to ignore my husbands high LDL levels after he started consuming col liver and butter oil.
In cultures where there is a high consumption of oily fish, there is at least one case of stroke or paralysis in every house.
Again, i’m not denying the nutritional benefits of cod liver or fish oil, just making a point. Please check your lipid levels after 2-3 months of eating increased fats, especially for men. Each body is different and eat what suits your body.
Not all LDL is bad, just the sticky kind that oxidizes. Low triglycerides are a strong indication that the patterning of your husband’s LDL is positive, but you could always request a VAP test to get more details. It’s worth noting that in a normal lipid panel, LDL isn’t measured at all, but calculated, and that calculation can be far off in some cases.
Thanks for this reply. I’ve been searching for answers.
On the brighter side, my husbands HDL increased. I just read about the VAP test. I have a question. Does it show the pattern A and pattern B types?
Thanks once again.
Yes, the VAP shows pattern B, A/B and A. It’s very concise compared to the usual cholesterol tests.
Hi
Somebody asked about Nordic Naturals cod liver oil. The reason why WAPF don’t list it any longer is because they (Nordic Naturals) started to remove the saturated fats in the cod liver oil, and with them quite some vitamin A, E, K and D. When you remove the natural saturated fats from cod liver oil the longer chain polyunsatyrated fats may oxidise faster and become more toxic. These omega-3 fatty acids are very beneficial in small amounts, but becomes toxic in greater amounts.
Saturated fats protects unsaturated fats from oxidising.
A side-note – except from the fat soluble vitamins the main benefit of cod liver oil is large amounts of DHA and not EPA, since EPA easily becomes toxic if ingested in large amounts. The key to health benefits from fish liver oils are regular small amounts, not large amounts. If you, for some reason, need to consume large amounts of “fishy fats” a good idea is to consume them with saturated fats like coconut or palm oil or beef tallow, or even butter or clarified butter/ghee, which protects your body from any toxic effect the longer chain unsaturated fatty acids could have. Consuming fish liver oils with saturated fats increase adsorption of fat soluble vitamins and also spare these vitamins from having to work as antioxidants to control oxidation of the unsaturated fats, meaning more vitamins will be avaiable for your body and health.
Some references –
http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/fishoil.shtml
http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/fats-degeneration3.shtml
Note that the information about fish oils in these articles does not include fermented fish liver oils that still have the natural large amounts of vitamin A and D in them.
Have fun :-)
Stephanie or anyone else that lives in Canada and has ordered from Green Pastures- how much does FexEx charge for the brokerage/border fees? I am trying to get GP to ship the oil to me regular US post, but I don’t know if they will. I once ordered an item, using FedEx, for $100 and paid $26 for shipping PLUS when they delivered the item they charged me a $40 brokerage fee!! So now I don’t like to order anything through FewEx or other couriers. Thanks.
Tania´s last [type] ..Spring Rolls
@Tania, Oh wow, that’s crazy. I actually get it shipped either to family or friends who live across the border and then I bring it up when I’ve been down long enough to not pay duty. Wish I could help more with that! Do you live close enough to go over the border? I know a lot of Canadians who rent PO boxes across the border for this kind of thing.
@Tania,
Hi Tania- I live in Ontario, Canada. I have ordered from green pastures 3x, and have never been charged any duty/fees. I don’t know if I have just been lucky.. :)
I was looking around and comparing different brands of cod liver oil recently and found that most of them do not list the amount of vitamins A and D on the label. Even the Green Pastures was that way. How do you find out the vitamin content so that you know if it’s a healthy ratio?
Ashley´s last [type] ..Mother Thoughts: Chapter 7
I have taken Cod Liver Oil since the late 40′s. My doctor now tells me that it is not
as pure and safe as it used to be and urged me not to take it.
Then I found this: http://www.naturalnews.com/001021.html
I’ve also read that high amounts of Vit A can be toxic and that the A interferes with vitamin D absorption. And finally, COD companies don’t meet quality standards of production.
What do you know about this?
Help!!!!
@Bet Grant, From what I have read, it is only high amounts of synthetic (not naturally occurring) Vitamin A that can be toxic. And it is important to have the correct A to D ration, but I don’t believe it’s because it interferes with the D absorption. Not from anything I’ve read, anyways. But yes, many COD companies definitely do not make a very high quality product, which is why I have certain companies (like Green Pasture) that I recommend much higher than others. Hope that helps a little!
We take the GP CLO – I bought the unflavored oil for my son, thinking the flavored ones would be a yucky combo of fish/flavor, but from the comments it sounds like they are the way to go. The CLO/butter oil is what I was taking for a while, and I feel it’s way more effective than just the CLO – after I run through my current bottle, I think I’ll go back to the combo.
I bribe my son with a square of dark chocolate, and he reminds me every day that he needs his cod liver oil. Even when he’s sick and won’t eat anything else, he wants his CLO! Those sick days are few and far between, though – and I really feel it’s due a lot to the CLO.
Jennifer´s last [type] ..How to Make Delicious Coffee- Every Time
Stephanie,
Do you take the WAPF suggestions for cod liver oil or the half dosage since it is fermented? When you are pregnant and nursing do you take 2 tsp? I was on another website who is also a WAP follower and she said pregnant women and those nursing should take 1 tbs. That is alot! And for those that are out in the sun during the summer months getting plenty of natural sunlight should we stop taking cod liver oil or continue?
Thanks
@Alina, I usually take the half dosage, but up it to the full WAPF suggestion when I’ve been bad about taking it or when I feel I need more. When I’m pregnant/nursing I do take the full dose almost all the time. I’ve never taken 1 tbs. That sounds a little excessive to me. In the summer, I do continue but only at the half dose unless I feel that I particularly need the extra.
Thank you for this info.! I take a prenatal vitamin daily (unfortunately the cheap Wal-mart brand). Would you recommend taking cod liver oil in conjunction with this prenatal vitamin? I don’t want to overdose on any vitamins and potentially harm a forming baby. I never know if/when I will be pregnant, so I’m always taking a prenatal vitamin. Or would it be better to stop the prenatal vitamin and take only cod liver oil?
I cannot make sense of all this vitamin stuff, so I just stick with what I’ve always been doing. Is there a prenatal vitamin you would recommend that would be a better choice than the store brand kind?
Thanks!
@Jill, If you really want to take a prenatal, I would suggest something like New Chapter. Theirs are entirely whole food based, nothing synthetic. A bit pricey, but I believe they’re a good choice.
We take the Carlsons and when our supply is done I would like to try Green Pastures. I call it a lemon drop and my kids love it (I have never used the words cod, liver or oil…. !). They think it’s fun and novel. I give it to them in a measuring spoon – even more novel. I think it has really helped with my daughter’s low muscle tone. I do wonder though – as my 2 year old gets pealing cuticles – and when I stopped the CLO for a week they healed. Hmmmm….
See, I got cinnamon tingle because everyone said it was kid-friendly but it’s too hot for my 3 yo. We found it’s really palatable mixed with my butter oil.
Thank you for sharing this information! I live in an area that seriously lacks in sunshine which always shows a deficiency in vitamin D. I am vegetarian, but with all this information and other things I have read, I may choose to go forward with taking this as a supplement.
I take the GP orange flavored capsules and still get fishy burps. How does your husband avoid them? ;-) I forgot about taking with fat. Maybe that will help. Might try the cinnamon tingle after reading the comments!
Kelly´s last [type] ..Tuna Quesadillas
@Kelly, He eats them with breakfast. Perhaps that helps?
@Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home,
I followed mine with a swig of raw milk this morning, and that seems to be helping. We usually have a smoothie in the morning with yogurt and I’ll try making a point of taking the capsules with that.
Kelly´s last [type] ..Tuna Quesadillas
Great info! I knew most, if not all of this, and have been taking GP FCLO for 2+ years … it was just so good to see it all in one place and explained so well. thanks!
Thanks for the good info- have been thinking for some time about starting the kiddos on this/actually all of us. Read that maybe ADD would benefit from higher omega fatty acids in the diet.
sarahworldcook@homestyleworldcook.blogspot.com´s last [type] ..Baked Oatmeal
oops, I meant Carlson’s 1000 mg capsules, not NN!! Sorry!
My mom gave me cod liver oil capsules and zinc supplements as a child as a treatment for the eczema that developed between my fingers. In no time, it completely cleared up, when nothing else had helped at all! I recently began experiencing flare ups again and went back to that same treatment – lo and behold, I haven’t had any problems in several weeks now. It really is an important factor in helping eczema. I use Nordic Naturals 1000mg capsules (2 per day) and Twin Labs zinc supplement.
My two year old takes the Nordic Naturals Children’s Liquid – I just stir it into apple sauce or yogurt and she never knows it’s there!
I recently got my husband to start taking my capsules too and he’s noticed an improvement in his overall mood. I’m going to guess that the Vitamin D is responsible, especially since we live in the NW US and haven’t seen actual sun since October. :D
Also, I can’t prove that this is a direct correlation, but we’ve barely been sick all winter. We had a bout of stomach flu last fall, but since then, only a very few and fleeting colds.
Thanks so much for all this information, especially for your opinion that taking something is better than nothing. I can’t afford Green Pastures at the moment, so we all take Carlson cod liver oil. I did realize, however, after reading this that our current doses aren’t enough. I’ll up our doses for now, and I may order some Green Pastures when our current supply runs out, since I don’t think I’ll be saving all that much by buying Carlson with a greatly increased dose.
I went to look at our vitamins and noticed my kids are taking cod liver oil (from Nordic Naturals so it looks like I’ll have to check into other brands) and I’m taking Fish Oil. Is there a difference between ‘Fish Oil’ and ‘Cod Liver Oil’?
@Tiffany, Yes, there is a difference. Fish oil is usually from salmon or other fatty fish, and it provides the same omega-3 fatty acids. What it doesn’t provide is the vitamins A and D, which are found only in the cod liver oil. So fish oil is still good, but cod liver oil has even more benefits.
Thanks for affirming regular CLO over nothing. Right now that’s what I’m giving my family based on the cost of the FCLO. Maybe someday we’ll make the switch, but for now we use the Sonne brand. It has no flavor and is pretty nasty tasting, which is maybe a good thing?
I always wash it down with milk. The fat seems to wash away the taste and keep me from burping. (Orange juice by itself makes me burp, so combined with the CLO, I’m burping up a fishy-orangy taste…not good.) My boys always request it in a spoonful of plain kefir. It sounds horrible to me, but they seem to somehow enjoy it. They are the ones who remind me every morning. Whatever works!
@Brittany, Yes, I would think that the CLO having a bad taste and no added flavor means it’s less processed, which is definitely a good thing!
I take the Green Pastures cinnamon tingle, and maybe I’m weird, but I don’t taste the fish oil at all! Just a cinnamon taste. It’s not something that I just want to get a spoon and dig into, but I honestly don’t mind the taste. I just lick it off the spoon and wash it down with a gulp of water or kombucha or something. Even my burps are cinnamony and not fishy.
@Kelli, I don’t find the cinnamon flavor fishy either, but I find the fermented taste sort of strong, so that’s what I want to wash away. The initial cinnamon taste is fine to me.
I use the Green Pasture mint CLO. I’ve been on it for about a month now. I definitely notice a difference in energy levels when I miss taking it. I also deal with some PCOS issues, and have noticed that it helps with those as well, although I also take a vitex blend and insolitol, so it might be those. I find the mint flavor very strong, so much so that I don’t notice the fishiness at all. I use an oral syringe to take it.
Brittany´s last [type] ..Hiatus
@Brittany, I’m glad to hear a positive review on the mint. That’s what I want to try next!
Every morning I make “whey” lemonade from yogurt that has hung overnight then mix GP Oslo Orange cod liver oil in with it. It taste like a margarita without the alcohol. We also take the high vitamin butter oil because Dr. Price says if you don’t take it with the oil you’re missing out on a lot of the good stuff in the cod liver oil.
@Becki, Thanks for bringing up the butter oil, Becki. Ideally, it’s great to be able to take either both CLO and butter oil, or take the Green Pasture variety that combines them together (that’s what we’re currently taking). But, our family also eats a lot of pastured butter, so I figure that helps if we’re only taking plain CLO and not butter oil as well.
Of course, I can’t find anything about it right now but a good friend, very wise woman and health resource of mine told me it’s best to take my CLO with fat. I always take a swig of raw milk, swish it around my mouth then using a medicine syringe I squirt the CLO in and then down it with more raw milk. I also try and take it before I go to sleep in case I do burp it up.
@Cutzi, Hmm, interesting about the fat. Perhaps that’s part of why Dr. Price thought that there was a synergistic relationship between taking the CLO and high-vitamin butter oil together?
I currently take Stronger Faster Healthier’s fish oil, but I’m looking at other options because it’s time to order more. The SFH fish oil is downright palatable straight off a spoon, which makes me wonder if it’s doing me anywhere near the good of the nasty cod liver oil! I’m going to do some research before I refill my order. Thanks for the info.
Anne´s last [type] ..How to Cook Without a Book
I dont’ take codliver oil however we do take flax oil. I found that one of my children was allergic to fish and would throw up after taking the codliver oil! I do believe in the benefits of CLO!
Josette´s last [type] ..Feast of Our Lady of Dolors
The cod liver oil taste isn’t bad (lemon flavored) for me. For me it’s the oil texture that is hard to get down. So I add it to yogurt. Two of my kids take it straight and the other one I mix hers in with raw honey.
Is it common to have a headache when you first start taking CLO? My husband and I just bought some twinlabs emulsified CLO softgels and we both got headaches within in an hr of taking it. I am nursing a 2 mo old and I also take calcium/d3, …magnesium, vitamin c, chromium & supermom so I don’t know if the combo is interfering or what. I am new to fish oils and despise eating fish. Everywhere I turn I have been hearing the importance of taking it!
@Jessica, I’m not sure about the headache. It could possibly be some sort of detox reaction, but I really don’t know. It could also be something in the brand that you are taking, that you’re reacting to negatively. Perhaps try calling their consumer hotline?
Also, my midwife from my last pregnancy advised me to take my calcium/magnesium only at night, separate from the CLO and iron supps that I was taking in the morning, because they would reduce the other’s effectiveness and absorption.
@Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home, I have often wondered when and what supplements should be taken together. I’m afraid that night is when I take the CLO because I don’t have the fishy burps that way. Then again that is also when I take Cal/Mag to help me sleep. Darn!
I guess I can try the CLO during the day and see if i can stand the taste.
Thanks for your suggestions. If we get a headache again tonight I will call their hotline.
We take Green Pastures CLO. I take the cinnamon flavoured one and actually find it quite pleasant! The kids take Orange with a bit of juice and they will usually ask for it as well….it helps that it is the only time they ever have juice so in a way it’s a treat ;) I can’t say I notice any health benefits but I trust that it is good for us.
Also, I believe the dosages listed above for “high vitamin cold liver oil” are actually the recommendations for the fermented CLO and for regular CLO it is actually double that amount.
@Alexis, Thanks for catching that, Alexis. I didn’t explain it very well in the post. Those are recommended doses for fermented, but they also line up with some other brands. For some brands, you’d probably need to double the dose. It all depends on the vitamin A and D content in what you’re taking.
What I meant about the fermented oil dose being half of that is that the Green Pasture bottles actually give you a dosage suggestion that is only half as much (1/2 tsp adults). What I’ve read is that for many people, the 1/2 tsp dose is enough. But for some, they need to up it to the full 1 tsp. And, in certain seasons of sickness or stress, you may want to go even above that. I’m not sure why Weston Price suggests double what Green Pasture suggests, but I go more by the vitamin A and D requirements, rather than the spoon size.
@Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home,
Ah, yes, I see what you are saying now. We tend to follow the WAPF guideline but it most likely even outs for us since we don’t remember to take it every day.
BTW, love your blog and am also in the lower mainland area with young children and homeschooling ;)
@Alexis, Oh, that’s fun that you live in the same area! :)
I love this stuff!! I hate, really HATE being without it. I’d pay any amount of money for it. I’m not kidding. It kept us from getting sick (much) this winter. Several times I’d start to get a sore throat and I’d take an extra dose and wake up fine. Any colds I did get (and the kids) were super minor, like a day or so of slight runny nose then gone. My husband, who is going through a detox right now (guided by an alternative doctor) actually can’t even take it, because it makes his immune system so much stronger and more efficient that he will go into a “healing crisis” — detox reaction! After just one dose!
I am also almost 6 months pregnant and started taking this just before I got pregnant, so I can’t WAIT to see how healthy this baby is!! (It’s also the first pregnancy I’ve eaten lots of grass-fed beef, raw milk, etc.)
To drive the cost down, try ordering 12 bottles at once. Get friends to go in on it with you. We’re doing this, about 5 – 6 of us are ordering together. It saves like 25 – 30% when you include shipping! I think I worked it out to being like getting 3 bottles free.
Oh, and my kids LOVE the Chocolate Cream flavor…they beg for it. They call it “special chocolate.” It’s no problem getting them to take it!
Kate Tietje´s last [type] ..Against the Grain- Delicious Recipes for the Whole Food and Grain-Free Diet LAUNCH!
@Kate Tietje, That’s a good suggestion, to get families together to buy it in bulk. I haven’t done that yet because I don’t know many other families who follow WAPF and would want to take it, unfortunately, and it’s a lot of money for us to buy 12 at once. But you’re very right about the savings.
I’m surprised that you like the chocolate (or your kids, anyways). My younger two didn’t mind it, but me and my oldest both thought the fish taste came through too much. We liked it better by adding a drop of stevia (we though it wasn’t sweet enough). But we definitely prefer cinnamon.
We make a little concotion of elderberry syrup and lemon flavored clo in a shot glass for the kids. They don’t seem to mind it and just chug it down. For my toddler, I put it into a medicine dropper and just squirt it in.
I’m wondering about Nordic Naturals…I found conflicting info. At one point WAPF had it on their list as fine, and then they didn’t and then they did. :) That is the brand we had been using.
Keri´s last [type] ..Big Hit Recipe- Crock-pot Ziti
@Keri,
Answering my own question…I saw on the comments section at WAPF that they don’t recommend Nordic Naturals because of low levels of vitamin A and D. Now I know. :)
Keri´s last [type] ..Big Hit Recipe- Crock-pot Ziti
@Keri, I’m not sure why Nordic Naturals isn’t listed on WAPF anymore, but I know that sometimes the way they make the oils and/or the vitamin levels change, and based on that WAPF decides whether or not to still promote a brand. So perhaps NN has made some changes over the last couple of years? You could always email the foundation and ask.
I started taking cod liver oil to help me recover from some physical issues that seemed to have stemmed from my son’s birth. Within about 6 weeks I noticed that my chronic “rain headaches” that I had been getting for over ten years had dramatically lessened. Within about another 6-8 weeks they were nearly gone. I would regularly get severe headaches when the weather shifted, particularly on a really cloudy day or rainy day. Over the years they had gotten so bad that I was getting headaches 2-3 days each week and very severe ones (I would have to go to bed) about every other week. It’s been 4 years now and I have had about one severe headache per year and it is very rare to get a “rain headache” anymore. To say it transformed my daily life is not an overly dramatic statement. My quality of life improved incredibly. The sad thing for me is knowing I was probably d deficient for 10 years and never knew. It was never suggested to me as a possibility. I ended up getting my d levels tested after a few months on cod liver oil and it was still even then borderline too low. About a year later i had it tested again and it was in a good range. As long as I keep up on my d, I am pretty much headache free. If I stop the d, after about a month, my headaches will start recurring. From my experience I am definitely a cod liver oil advocate, even though I think it is nasty. I put mine in one swallow’s worth of oj and swallow it down, following it by a piece of bread. For my kids I make fruit smoothies and stir in the cod liver with a straw. You can smell it if you get close (thus the straw) but you can’t taste it. Don’t blend it in in the blender though or you will taste it big time.
@Christy, What a great testimonial, thanks so much for sharing!
My MIL also adds CLO to her smoothies (she uses Carlson lemon flavor) and you can’t really notice it. At least, my kids and I can’t. My husband can. :)
I had no idea what kind of benefits clo had for the body. I’m thinking that I’ll try and fit this into the budget next month. Thanks for this post. Now I just need to figure out how to get it into a very picky 2 year old…. :-)
@Emily, I have a picky two year old too! I get a liquid formula and “hide” it in applesauce or yogurt. She gobbles it up and never knows it’s there!
I hadn’t known about the fermented option (our cod liver oil is no doubt very processed. And not fermented. I didn’t know that was an option). Thank you for this post. :-)
Thomasin´s last [type] ..How to be a Good Post-partum Hostess
Thank you for sharing this! I was doing some research for a friend about cod liver oil and ran across a site talking about toxicity and vitamin a and d in cod liver oil. The Weston Price Foundation information was very helpful, too!
Barb @ A Life in Balance´s last [type] ..daybook april 17- 2011
I found out last summer that I have a shrimp allergy (just mild itchy rashes after eating it). I read somewhere that a shrimp allergy might prevent one from taking clo. Any thoughts or experiences with this?
@katie, I have never heard that, and I would be surprised if the two were related. Shellfish allergies prevent some people from taking certain types of calcium (because it comes from shells), but I can’t imagine why you couldn’t take CLO. Of course, you wouldn’t want to aggravate an allergy, so just in case I would try a small dose on my your, and then take a small dose orally if there’s no reaction from that, before beginning to take full doses.
@Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home, there is a link on the GP website. http://www.greenpasture.org/public/Allergies/index.cfm
I might try the patch test and see, though! Thanks :)
I am so inconsistent with this sort of thing. My kids will take it gladly, but I rarely remember to give it to them.
Jessica´s last [type] ..Why this site is filling up with Messes and Planks
@Jessica, I can be inconsistent, too. I try to give us all slightly bigger doses when I know I’ve been forgetful. :)
Do you know why the emulsified tastes better? I went to the Green pastures site, but it wasn’t clear to me. I would like to try this if it is as good as the regular fermented options from green pastures. Thanks.
Jodi´s last [type] ..Amelia Bedelia Cake
@Jodi,
Green Pasture’s blog has a short post about emulsified being easier to take and even “enjoyable.” See here: http://www.greenpasture.org/utility/showArticle/index.cfm?objectID=7258
@Jodi, The oily texture is gone. It has more of a smooth, creamy texture instead. I’ve tried the TwinLabs emulsified mint, and it was like candy on a spoon. Only problem with emulsified is that you have to take 3x as much to get the same nutrients.
What’s wrong with the capsules? I’ve always read that they’re ‘ok’ as a last resort if you can’t swallow the liquid…but what’s the difference??
@Melanie,
I don’t think she’s saying that there’s anything wrong with the capsules. It’s just that the capsules (at least for Green Pastures) are more expensive and may be harder to justify in the budget.
@Melanie, They’re a lot more expensive because you have to take a lot more to get the same dose. Some say up to 10 per day, and the bottle only contains 60, for $35! So not worth it, at least for us!
@Kate Tietje, Wow, 10 per day? The bottle says 2. That’s what my hubs takes. If it was more than that, it would definitely not be worth buying.
@Melanie, Nothing wrong with the capsules at all!
I completely avoided having to get a root canal because of taking Cod Liver Oil. I was in excrutiating pain and had everything lined up to get the root canal. However, I had been researching natural dental care. I bought the Oil, took a dose before going to bed and woke up the next morning with no pain! I continued to take a dose everyday and within four days I was able to chew completely on that side of my mouth again. I highly recommend it.
@Debbie Nowinski, Is this supposed to make your teeth better?
{ 7 trackbacks }